Midterm season is upon us, which, while miserable, also means that Halloween is slowly approaching; a fact that I remind myself of every time I’m walking up to McLennan 5. For me, Halloween is not merely a one-day event; it is an entire season. As the Letterboxd user I am, it is my obligation to spend all of October watching Halloween movies. Here is a list of the movies I watch every year without fail – that you should watch too!
As the Letterboxd user I am, it is my obligation to spend all of October watching Halloween movies.
- Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Directed by Jim Sharman
Rocky Horror Picture Show is, perhaps, the most iconic Halloween movie-musical to ever exist, earning recognition as a cult classic. Two Ohioans, Brad and Janet, stumble upon a mansion when their car breaks down. This mansion turns out to be home to a Frankenstein-esque situation, led by Dr Frank-N-Furter, . Every year, various organizations host showings for this film to show live actors performing alongside the movie, and audiences are expected to dress up and participate, with props being involved. There are also showings here in Montreal. From October 29th-31st, there will be showings at the Rialto theatre, and on November 1st at the Decarie theatre. You can (and should) get tickets here.
- Hocus Pocus (1993) – Directed by Kenny Ortega
Hocus Pocus is one of the first movies I remember watching, and I believe it is almost obligatory to watch this every October. When a teenage girl moves to Massachusetts, she finds a coven of evil witches, and logically, along with her new friends, must stop them from being evil. The movie has everything one can ask for in a fun Disney Halloween movie: witches, spell books, a magical cat, and a bunch of pre-teens saving the world. If you pretend the sequels were never made, this movie makes for a delightful autumnal evening.
The movie has everything one can ask for in a fun Disney Halloween movie: witches, spell books, a magical cat, and a bunch of pre-teens saving the world.
- Twilight (2008) – Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Most would say that this is not a Halloween movie, but they are wrong. Twilight is not only the peak autumnal film, but horrifying. Bella Swan is forced to move to this dark, ominous small town after her mother decides she wants to follow her baseball-playing boyfriend around America, and on her first day of school sees a man who stares at her as though he wants to eat her. Guess what: he is a vampire named Edward Cullen, and he does want to eat her, and they end up in a whirlwind romance where she is forced into this vampire family. Her other love interest, Jacob Black, is a werewolf and also possesses the ability to eat her. This is a nightmare situation; therefore, the movie qualifies as horror. Some will say that this movie is awful; that the acting is bad, the special effects are poorly done and that the signature grey-blue colouring makes it difficult to see, but I firmly disagree. This movie is fun, and if you disregard objectivity and simply treat Kristen Stewart’s bizarre intonation as a comedic choice, then it is a far better experience, and I watch this every year with my friends before Halloween and greatly enjoy myself.
- Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) – Directed by Halina Rejin
This movie is a satire on the conventional horror film, and it is completely hilarious. Overexaggerated rich kids are in a countryside mansion for a weekend. One of their friends has a freak accident, which all of them believe to be a murder. It has all the melodramatic facets of a conventional murder mystery, but the audience knows the entire time that this was not a murder. I adore this movie, and it is so fun to watch. That being said, I will also watch anything that stars Rachel Sennott.
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) – Directed by Bill Melendez
This is just the cutest movie ever created. I adore Snoopy more than most things. The 25 minutes will cure every ounce of sadness you have within you. Just watch it.
If you succeed in watching all of these, I can guarantee you will have had the perfect Halloween season. Happy Halloween, and happy watching!
